The other day, while watching a flamenco show*, I could not help noticing that -- while Romanians are supposed to have some Latin genes left -- our traditional dances are group dances, emphasizing the group and the community. Power by numbers of some sort, like, I don't know, a forrest. Flamenco, on the other hand, an Andalusian dance, is a all about the individual and the individuality. It's a form of 'Look at me, me, me!' gratification of egos. The group is there, but only to support and admire the skill and beauty of the frontmost dancer.

So it's group vs. individual. I don't know what this means, or if it's even true, but it just crossed my mind that it may bear a hidden significance about the Romanian spirit.

Even more significant was the audience reaction at what happened on stage. Instant, total bond. The whole National Theater screamed with joy and kept the artists captive by recalling them to the stage over and over again. Maybe that gene is not definitely lost, maybe after what this nation went through, we're just afraid of being passionate.

*Despues de Carmen / Boda Flamenca, with Antonio Marquez Dance Company from Madrid – at Bucharest Arts Festival (beware, horrendous web site, the last one!)